I admit that I've wondered sometimes why bike riders can roll across the Bridgebut skaters cannot. I suspect the history lies in one of those cases where "Back in 1978 the Mayor's son was almost bowled over by a guy who was trying to impress his girlfriend," and a regulation was born. Maybe the skaters are less organized than the bike riders, or less connected at San Francisco City Hall (where the balance of power on the Bridge resides). In any case, those are the rules.

Now someone is trying to change them.

Representatives from the California Outdoor Rollersports Associationattended the Friday, May 14 meeting of the Golden Gate Bridge District Board of Directors this morning in search of equal access for roller skating visitors to the Bridge. They offered to follow the same rules as bicycles, with speed restrictions, access only to one side of the Bridge, and a ban on racing.

District spokeswoman Mary Currie pointed out that skateboards and horses are also prohibited on the Bridge.

We (er, actually, well, "I...") have been known while driving to complain to friends about CalTrans now and again (well, actually, all the time.) But this story is an example of somebody getting a great idea and spending extra time informing the community about what they're doing.

This Saturday May 15 you can go on a bike ride with CalTrans engineers, who will show you what is being done and where the new roadways, bike paths and trails will go. Meet at the Sports Basement parking lot at 10:00, and at 10:10 the riders will head out. The event will wrap up at 11:30 AM with a party (food and beverages provided) at Sports Basement, who are also offering special discounts to participants.

If you're planning a Sunday morning bike ride from San Francisco to Sausalito on either of the next two weekends, get an extra hour of sleep. The sidewalks on each side of theGolden Gate Bridgewill be closed from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM April 11 to clear the way for 2,500 runners who'll be participating in theUS Half Marathon, and from 7:30- 10:00 AM April 18 for thePresidio 10 Race.

The Half Marathon race starts at Aquatic Park in San Francisco and will make its way across the Golden Gate Bridge. The Presidio 10 begins and ends at Crissy Field.

In each case, Racers will run north on the east sidewalk and return south on the west sidewalk, thus necessitating the closure both ways till 9:00 AM.

The Bridge District tells us that while the sidewalks are closed, bicyclists and pedestrians wishing to cross the Bridge can ride a free shuttle service being set up for the event. One shuttle stop will be located on the south side in the southeast parking lot, and another on the north side along the northbound Alexander Avenue off-ramp bus stop just north of Vista Point.

The Golden Gate Bridge District has announced that a series of construction closures will affect parking lots, tunnels and the adjacent sidewalks between July 31 and October 26, 2009. There will be three closures from late July through August 21, one in September and a final closure in October.

Place: Golden Gate Bridge Sidewalks & Parking Lots, and the Sausalito on-ramp and off-ramp next to the Golden Gate Bridge

If you have to drive into San Francisco on the morning of Sunday, July 26, allow some extra time due to lane changes and parking lot closures on the Golden Gate Bridge to allow the San Francisco Marathon to cover a round-trip route over the span.

We'd recommed that Sausalito residents enter Highway 101 at Spencer or in Marin City to avoid where the runners will loop back on the ramps where 101 meets the Golden Gate Bridge.

With over 20,000 people running this marathon we expect that there will be stragglers after 10:00 AM as well, even if the traffic lanes have been restored to normal.

Here's what we received from the orgamizers about the closures:

Golden Gate Bridge Roadway Lanes (1:00 AM to 10:00 AM)From 1 to 6 AM, the roadway lane configuration on the Bridge and Doyle Drive will be transitioned to accommodate the Marathon runners.From 6 to 9 AM, the Marathon course will occupy 2 northbound lanes, with a third “buffer” lane between the runners and traffic. There will be 2 southbound traffic lanes and 1 northbound traffic lane. By 10 AM, the roadway will be returned to 3 northbound lanes and 3 southbound lanes.

Golden Gate Bridge Exit and Parking Area – NO DROP OFFS ALLOWED (12:00 Midnight - 10:00 AM) Last northbound San Francisco exit, off Doyle Drive just before the toll plaza will be closed from midnight to 10 AM. The southeast parking lot will also be closed from midnight to 10 AM. First southbound exit after the toll plaza onto Merchant Road will have no access beyond the toll plaza itself and no access into the Presidio from Midnight -10 AM.

Parking on the Sausalito side of the Golden Gate Bridge (lots pictured in satellite image below):

Vista Point exit (northeast side) and the Vista Point parking lot will be closed midnight to 10 AM. Northwest side parking lot (off Conzelman Rd.) will be closed from 3 to 10 AM.

Well, you'll need to part with some big bucks to do it, but you can participate in the first-ever bike race that crosses the Golden Gate Bridge as part of the Amgen Tour of California on February 16. And you'll get to do it in the peleton behind 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

For $500.00 you get to ride with Lance, and proceeds from this Sausalito fundraiser will help underwrite the expense of hosting the Race as well as support Race beneficiaries – Sausalito Bikes for Kids (see below), Trips for Kids and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.

Since they don't have a website to link to yet, here's more about Sausalito Bikes for Kids: Sausalito Bikes for Kids was established last year to provide age appropriate bicycles for Sausalito/Marin City elementary school children who “earned” new bikes and helmets by completing an educational curriculum that focused on bike safety, health and fitness. Last year 135 children earned brand new bicycles. This year the proceeds from the program will go to create the first-ever Bike Club at an elementary school in Northern California. Sausalito school children who complete the educational curriculum this year will be charter members of the the Bike Club which will provide loaner bicycles, bike trips and bike storage at the schools. Share a special gift by donating $50, $100, or $200 towards the Sausalito Bikes for Kids program at 420 Litho Street, Sausalito, CA 94965, phone 415-289-4126.